Unit 9 - Technology and School Leaders

Give a brief review of the information you found on these sites.

These three websites all deal with how technology impacts a district. The first website (http://www.aasa.org/AASATechResources.aspx) is all about awareness. The site contains many links to different topics to help educate and keep our students safe as well as how our students are using technology. One of the links explains the different programs that students could be on and the negative impacts that could be associated with those sites. Every once in a while, I include a list of new website that students are using and their potential harmful effects in my monthly newsletter. This ways, parents can at least know what to look for. Another links explains why Wikipedia cannot be trusted. This is valuable information for students. Another link brings the user to a National Technology Plan. One of the most interesting links on there was to a story that discussed the necessity for technology in education. Other topics on this first website included internet safety, explanations as to how technology can save money, and technology contacts across the country. The focus of the second website (http://tech.ed.gov/netp/leadership) was to give leaders ideas to  create and implement successful technology initiatives. One of the most important takeaways was the role of the teacher. Successful implementation starts with teachers having the right tools, technology, and support. Once these teachers have all of the support needed and have started implementation, use the data gained from them to inform future decisions. Other things included in this site were discussions on budgeting, strategic planning, partnerships, and staff responsibilities. The last website (https://www.iste.org/standards/for-education-leaders) contained the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards. Some of these standards included things like: modeling digital citizenship, cultivating responsible online behavior, evaluating the strategic plan, effective communication, inspire a culture of innovation, protect privacy and security, and participate in professional learning networks. These standards are important to consider when considering a districts education plan.

What information will be most useful to you as a school leader?

Most of the useful information I discovered through these sites has been a constant idea through this class and the program. First and foremost, our job is administrators is to keep the students, staff, and school safe. This safety includes technology and the internet. Second, we need to keep up with the times. Teachers need to meet students where they are at in the technology world. Schools also need to keep parents aware and alert of possible threats. Third, a school’s vision and strategic plan is vital to its overall success. Expensive and needed technology will not get purchased if a school’s vision and strategic plan is not explained to the stakeholders. Administrators cannot just explain the importance to the stakeholders, they must elicit input from them. Fourth, a district needs to create a culture of risk takers who embrace new models and technologies. Fifth, when budgets are tight, but things need to be purchased, look for ways to cut the budget or look for creative funding avenues. Lastly, partnerships with organizations are the cornerstone of how schools get things done.